Tomorrow, International Scout Jambore Participants In South Korea Will Be Evacuated, How Is The Condition Of The Indonesian Contingent

Jambore Pramuka Internasional 2023 In South Korea (Source: WSBureau inc/Aleaxander Rydberg)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government will follow up on information or the steps taken by South Korea, related to the plan to evacuate the Jambore Pramuka International participants tomorrow, saying there has been no news about any members of the country's contingent who have fallen ill.

Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Teuku Faizasyah said that his party continues to monitor developments in the field from time to time, both with the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, as well as with companions from Kwarnas.

"The news is that the South Korean authorities will provide a briefing in the near future regarding the possibility of evacuation. The government will later follow up on the information or steps submitted by the South Korean side," Faizasyah told VOI, Monday, August 7.

"Alhamdulillah, information has not been received if someone is sick," he continued, regarding the condition of the contingent members.

The South Korean government on Monday announced that all participants of the International Scout Jambore in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, would be evacuated to Seoul and its surroundings, as the Topan Khanun threat is expected to hit the country on Thursday.

Starting Tuesday morning, tens of thousands of young Scout members will be evacuated to a wider area of Seoul, under an emergency plan. About 1,000 buses will be deployed to transport about 36,000 participants from 156 countries.

"The relocation process will start at 10 am and the participants will be moved in succession... We expect the entire process to take about six hours, but it will probably take longer depending on the situation," Deputy Minister of Disaster Management and Safety Kim Sung-ho told a briefing held at the camp site., reported the Korea Times.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Gender Equality and Kim Hyun-sook's family emphasized that the early return from the camp site did not mean the closure earlier than the four-year meeting. Originally, the 25th International Scout Jamboree would take place on August 1-12 2023.

"We are reviewing various activities with local governments, I think we are expanding the Jambore scale," he said.

The officials were unable to immediately provide an exact amount or the type of accommodation that would be provided to young scouters, saying discussions with local governments were ongoing.

"The Indonesian Scout Movement contingent has also prepared an emergency plan to avoid the Khanun taifun's tantrum. The Indonesian Embassy in Seoul and the Jeollabuk Provincial Government are ready to assist the Indonesian contingent," wrote Waka Kwarnas Berthold Sinaulan in his statement.

Topan Khanun moved over the waters about 330 kilometers northeast of Okinawa, Japan, at 9 a.m. Monday, according to the Korean Meteorological Administration (KMA). The Ginseng State weather agency expects the tropical storm to land on the southeast coast on Thursday morning.

KMA classifies Khanun as the "strong" typhoon - the second-highest level in a four-level system - and says most of the country's territory will be under its influence before leaving Korea on Saturday.